Review: White Peony (Bai Mu Dan)

After the recent experience with their Pistachio Rose tea, I was quite excited to try the Tea Horse take on the bai mu dan tea, a delicate and sometimes finicky tea to get right. The results: Another wonderful cup from the folks at Tea Horse.(more…)

Review: Pistachio Rose

I’ll confess — while I do enjoy pistachio and roses separately — I would be a little nervous to put them together. Which is why I was intrigued but wary when the kind folks at Tea Horse sent me a sample of their Pistachio Rose tea. After a few sips, my concerns were quickly put to rest. This is a unique and very lovely tea. While it technically fits in the green tea category, it’s so incredibly different.(more…)

Review: Liao Mayor Black Tea (廖鄉長紅茶)

Better known for its oolong and green teas, it’s unusual to see traditional black tea coming from Taiwan. Needless to say, I was intrigued to receive this tea by way of a gift from some Taiwanese visitors.(more…)

Review: Oolong #17 Jade Pearls First Flush

The kind folks at Tea Mania noticed my love for oolong teas, and I thank them for the opportunity to try an very nice oolong tea. Overall, I found this oolong tea to be quite excellent – aromatic, full-flavored, and very satisfying. After my first sip, this tea went fast!(more…)

Ah, the enigmatic flowering or “blooming” tea. While the tea has become popular in recent years, the information surrounding its creation and inception is somewhat nebulous. As with many teas, experts in the field seem to have varying opinions on how the tea is best processed, brewed and enjoyed. Likewise, there’s a healthy debate over whether the tea has been around since ancient China or if it’s an invention of the 1980s. One thing is for certain; the tea sure is pretty when it blooms.(more…)

Review: Les Plaisirs Purs Le Citron

I love trying new teas, and am delighted to get a chance to sample the latest launch from Les Palais des Thes. They recently announced their Plaisirs Purs range, a collection of four blends which present a simple yet very appealing idea – classic teas paired with the natural extracts of fruits and flowers in four flavors: “le citron” (lemon), “la poire” (pear), “la fleur d’oranger” (orange blossom) and “la menthe glaciale” (frosty mint). I haven’t had a chance to try all four flavors, but here’s an initial impression.(more…)